Why Patients Need You

Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. We are seeking a chemical engineer/scientist to join the Chemical Research and Development (CRD) Process Safety team in Groton. They will apply safety specific chemical engineering principles and lab-scale data-rich experimentation to increase process understanding and to assess safe process operating conditions.

CRD, as part of Worldwide R&D in Pharmaceutical Sciences, is responsible for the development of process technology for the production of API. CRD scientists engage in all facets of development from small scale synthesis in support of medicinal chemistry programs, to the development of the commercial synthetic route. CRD scientists partner with manufacturing specialists for API synthesis in kilo-lab and pilot plant facilities, as well as provide support for technology transfer to Pfizer manufacturing sites and third party facilities

What You Will Achieve

The Associate Scientist in Process Safety will collaborate with process chemists, engineers, and process supervisors to develop an acceptable basis for safety to support scale-up and technology transfer of new chemical processes to Pfizer’s research and manufacturing facilities. The scope of work includes the development and execution of a suitable process safety testing plan following established guidelines, best practices, and scientific judgment and provide recommendations for safe execution. Instrumentation used in the analysis of process safety includes, but is not limited to, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Accelerating Rate Calorimetry (ARC), Thermal Screening Unit (TSU), and reaction calorimetry. The candidate will also help advance both in-silico and experimental tools and techniques the group uses to execute projects.

It is your hard work and focus that will make Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.

How You Will Achieve It

• Working with process chemists and engineers, perform the careful and thorough evaluation of all known and potential hazards for the safe scale-up of chemical processes for preparing pharmaceutical intermediates and active products in Pfizer research and manufacturing facilities
• Develop a safety test plan suitable for the potential process hazards and perform all required process safety testing. Typical testing includes DSC, ARC, TSU, and reaction calorimetry (RC-1 and CRC) to identify and characterize all thermal and pressure events of the intended and unintended processes
• Identify all requirements for external safety testing (e.g. dust explosivity) and lead engagement with external vendors and coordinate all interactions
• Identify and characterize reaction off-gas rates
• Enter all experimental data and calculations in an electronic laboratory notebook and in collaboration with other process safety colleagues, complete review and witnessing of all experiments.
• Summarize and document results in process safety test reports
• Support technology development and workflow initiatives to implement new capabilities and improve efficiency
• Remain current on process safety science and technology. Maintain active involvement in key professional societies through conference participation and publication

Qualifications

Must-Have

• BS in Chemical Engineering/Chemistry or related scientific field
• Strong knowledge of chemical engineering principles including; reaction kinetics, chemical thermodynamics, heat and mass transport, engineering statistics, reactor design.
• Self-motivated, organized, capable of working independently, and in a collaborative environment
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with ability to communicate results through written reports, publications and related documentation

Nice-to-Have

• Experience in thermal analysis techniques; including DSC, ARC, and reaction calorimetry.
• Experience using automated laboratory reactors and associated equipment (dosing pumps, pH meters, etc)
• Working knowledge of reaction modeling, property prediction, and simulation computational tools including: DynoChem, Visimix, Aspen, and Cosmotherm,
• A good foundational understanding of organic chemistry

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to work in a laboratory environment performing experiments in a laboratory fume hood. Ability to perform complex data analysis.

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

Some travel associated with technology transfer to CRD pilot plant and PGS new product launch site may be required .

Research and Development